Process and apparatus of dephlegmation



Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED .STATES 1,623,136 PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN D. SEGUY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTSCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

`PROCESS AND APPARATUS OF DEPHLEGMATION.

'Application led March 25, 1925. Serial No. 18,187.

This invention relates to yimprovements in a process and apparatus ot'dephlegmation, and refers more particularly lto the treatment of vaporsin a dephlegmator forming part of a system for the treatment ofhydrocarbon oils.

In the specific 'embodiment of the'present invention, the vaporsreleased from hydrocarbon oil which has been subjected to hifrh heat,are introduced into the interior of tie dephiegmator and there subjectedt d ephlegmation. Portions of said vapoix will condense as refluxcondensate, and the remaining uncondensed portions after passage throughthe dephlegmator, are withdrawn, condensed and collected as distillate.The capacity-and efficiency of the-dephleg mator are carefullycontrolled and regulated by regulating the point ot introduction of thevapors and controlling the point of withdrawal of liquid refluxcondensate, which liquid reflux is maintained in a pool in the lower endof the dephleglnator, the depth of said pool being carefully controlledby controlling the point at which reflux is withdrawn from said pool. v

In the drawing, the single ligure is a side elevational view, partl invertical section ot' a dephlegmator witi its associated connections.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 designates asa whole thedephlegmator which may take the form of a steel drum disposed in avertical plane having the rounded lower end 2 and upper detachable cap3, from which extends the vapor outlet 4 in which is interposed thevalve 5. Connnunicating with the lower end 2 of the dephlegn'iator isthe reflux leg 6 of restricted diameter, in which is interposed thevalve 7. An upward extension 8 projects ,into the interior of thechamber from the lower end 2 having a spaced cap portion 9 disposedthereabove. Suitable baflles or perforated pans 10 which are of standardconstruction, are superimposed in the interior of the chamber.

Referring now to some of thefeatures of the present invention, thehydrocarbon vapors which have been released from a body of hydrocarbonoil which has been subjected to a high conversion temperature, passesupwardly through the vapor inletpipe 11. This vapor inlet pipe 11 isprovided with branches 12, 12 and 12" cont-rolled by valves 13, 13 and13 respectively, said branches being preferably superimposed andconnected into the side wall of the chamber 1 at varying heights. Thevapors in their passage upwardthrought the dephlegmator are retarded bythe baflles or perforated pans 10, and a large percentage of the heavierends or fractions will condense therein and fall to the bottom or lowerend 2 of said dephlegmator, the vapors still remainingS uncondensedafter passage through the dephlegmator being discharged through thevaportoutlet 4.

As a feature ot' the present invention, instead ot' allowing the liquidreflux condensate to drain into the reflux leg 6 and be withdrawn fromthe system or returned to the body of oil being subjected to theconversion temperature as is usually the practice, the reflux condensatemay collect in a pool such as shown at 8. By regulating the extent towhich the pipe, 8 projects into the interior of the chamber through thebottom 2. the level of the pool of reflux condensate designated at A maybe carefully regulated. When the level is maintained at A, only thebranch 12 preferably discharges vapors into the interiorof the chamber1, the'valve 13 being open, and the valves 13 and 13 in the branches 12and 12 being closed. The reflux condensate overflowing through .the pipe8 passes down through the leg 6, the valve 7 being open, into theenlarged portion 14C of the reflux leg 6, discharging into the suctionside of the pump 15 which may discharge said liquid condensate throughthe line 16 regulated by the valve 17to storage, or through the line 18regulated by the valve 19 to be returned to the body of oil beingheated. It will be understood that the dephlegmator may be maintainedunder a superatmospheric pressure.

Depending upon the characteristics of the vapors released when treatingcertain kinds of oil, it may be desirable to maintain the pool of liquidreflux condensate accumulating in the lower end of the chamber 1 atamuch greater depth than that sho-Wn at A. In this event the valve 7 istotally or partially closed. and the level of the pool carried atV B.Regulated portions of the liquid condensato may be withdrawn from thepool of oil maintained at the level B through the drawofl' 20 controlledby valve 21, discharging into the drawofl' 22` which drawofl 22discharges into the enlarged. portion 14 of the reflux leg communicatingwit-h the pump 15.

In the same manner when dephlegmating vapors releasedl from other oilscontaining different characteristics, itanay be desirable to carry thelevel of' the pool of reflux condensate at a point, say. midway of thedephlegmator at a level designated as C. In this event, liquidcondensate may be withdrawn troni the pool when it is maintained up tothe. level C through the line Q3 controlled by the valve Q4, which line23 communicates with the line 22, heretofore described, returning thesaid liquid condensate to the enlarged portion 14 ot the reflux leg,which in turn communicates with the pump 15.

Raw oil may be introduced to the interior ot the chamber through the rawoil inlet line 25 in which is interposed valve 2G, terminating in thespray or rose 27, said raw oil preferably being introduced at a pointimmediately adjacent the upper end of the dephlegmator.

In the vsame manner, regulated portions of the distillate produced bycondensing the vapors discharging through the line 4, may be returnedthrough the distillate inlet line 28 controlled by the valve 29, whichline 28 terminates in the rose or spray 30 in the interior ot thedephlegmator 1. The purpose ot introducing the raw oil and distillate isto control the temperature of the vapors discharging through the vaporoutlet 4 .to produce a cooling and condensing `of the heavier fractionsof the vapors.

It is to be noted that the point of vapor introduction to the interiorof the dephlegmator is slightly above the level of the pool of refluxcondensate maintained therein. In other words, if the level of the poolof liquid condensate is maintained at A, the vapors will dischargethrough the branch 12, the valve 13 being open` and the valves 13 and 2lclosed. Also valve 7 can be opened, and valves 21 and 24 closed. It willbe apparent that the same method of operation will be followed as thevapors areintroduced at successively higher points, the valves beingsuitably regulated as hereinbefore described.

By means of the present invention, the capacity of the dephlegmator :iscarefully regulated, according to the characteristics of the vaporsentering and leaving the dephlegmator by controlling the level of thepool ot liquid reflux maintained in the lower end thereof. The advantageof being ableto do this, will be at once apparent, as it is not possibleto change the capacities of the present dephlegmators now in use, and itwould not be practical to substitute dephlegmators of differingcapacities in treating different kinds of oils. It is of course,apparent that as the depth of the pool of liquid reflux is increased,thatIthe t is' dephlegmating capacity is decreased. pointed out that itis not actually necessary to superimpose the vapor lines or refluxdrawotl lines, as they may be placed at points of' varying height.

The apparatus is very flexible in operation, and is productive ofextremely good results.

I claim as` my invention:

1. A process of dephlegmating hydrocarbon oil vapors, consisting inintroducing vapors released from liquid hydrocarbon oil subjected to aconversion temperature into a vertical dephlegmator, maintaining a poolof liquid reflux condensate in the lower portion thereof, controllingthe depth of the pool by regulating the point of withdrawal of thecondensate from said pool, regulating the point of introduction of saidvapors dependent upon the depth ot' the pool, thus controlling thecapacity of said dephlegmator, withdrawing the uncondensed vapors fromthe upper portion ot the dephlegmator.

2. A process ofV dephlegmating hydrocarbon oil vapors, consisting inintroducing vapors released from liquid hydrocarbon oil subjected to aconversion temperature into a vertical dephlegmator, maintaining a poolof liquid reflux condensate in the lower portion thereof, controllingthe depth of the pool by regulating the point'of withdrawal' of thecondensate from said pool, in concurrently regulating the point ofintroduction of said vapors, thus controlling the capacity of saiddephlegmator, withdrawing the uncondensed vapors from the upper portionof the dephlegmator, and maintaining the contents of the dephlegmatorunder a superatmospheric pressure.

3. A process of dcphlegmating hydrocarbon oil vapors, consisting inintroducing vapors released fronrliquid hydrocarbon oil subjected to aconversion temperature into a. vertical dephlegmator, maintaining a poolot' liquid reflux condensate in the lower portion thereot', controllingthe depth of the pool by regulating the point of withdrawal of thecondensate from said pool, in concurrently varying the point ofintroduction of said vapors to correspond with the changed depth of thepool, thus controlling the capacity of said dephlegmator, withdrawingthe uncondensed vapors from the upper portion of the dephlegmator. andmaintaining the contents of the dephlegmator under a superatmosphericpressure, introducing a liquid cooling medium to the dephlegmator andphysically commingling said medium with the contents of thedephlegmator.

4. A dephlegmator for use with oil treating apparatus, comprising avertically disposed chamber, a vapor outlet adjacent its upper end, aplurality of valved vapor inlets disposed at various heights on ihe sidewall ol said chamber discharging lzhe vapors regulated heighl's ino theinlieriur ol' seid chamber, und a plurality of vnlved outlels disposedali varying;i heighls on seid chainher through any one oi which theliuuic re,- iux condensate muy he withdrawn 'llo nuiin lain a controlledlevel in said dephlegin:ilerw means adjacent the upper end of saideha1nher for introducing` liquid cooling .medium lo the interior1thereof.

A dephl-eginulor for use with oil realing apparatus7 comprising aveilicalhv disposed chamber, a vapor outlec' ailier-cnt ils upper end, apluralit) oi' superimposed valved vapor inlets disposed ai" variousheights on the side wall of said chaniher discharging the 'vapors atreguleeed heighls into the interior of seid chamber, and e, pliuulilg,vi superimposed valved outlels disi'iosed ul varyingr heights on saidchai-uber hrough a ny one of which the liquid reflux condenszite may hewithdrawn lo 'nieinlain u conrol liuud level in said dephlegnn:ilernmeans adjecent the upper end of said chmnher Yl'or introducingg,` liquidcooling` inediiun lo she interior thereof.

6. A niethod for coni'rollinggj she capacil'v of a dephleginzitingcoluinn "for dephlegeginal.A ing hydrocarbon oil vapors, consisting* inmaintaining a 'n'edelerniined velunie o; rcl'lux condensate in iheelepl'ilegg'nniing coluinn hy witlidrnwiney Ehe reflux condensate l'rolnthe dei hleglnaling` column al; predelerinined vertically spucecl poinlsthereof nd in inlrmlucingv the vapors lo lhe dephlegjuiatin(T columnar npoint shove the liquid leve o'lA lhe reflui condensate'niziinaiued inlie dephlegniating column, und, in varying the point al which the vaporsare introduced io lhe dephli'lgslnialingcoluniu when ll liquid L! ill,

level of 'the reflux condensale in the dephlegina'ing column is varierhi', jin epiiaralus 'for dephlegrinnling h5 drocarhon oil vapors,comprising an elonglzilerl if'ertically disposed colin'nnq n pluralit)vol" .'erlically spaced vapor inlets coinniunieating wil'h Asaiddephlegggniasing column, nieans for introducing vapors lo saiddephlegjmnling colunin through any one, of said vapor inlets, means forraking;V oil' dephlegruaed vapors from said colun'inA9 a. plurality ol'vertically siaced reflux draw-off lines cuinniunicaing; willi saiddephleguiating colunin, nicnns for drawing oil' rellux lhroug'h any oneof said reiiux draw-oil' lines to lherehy nieintziiu a predelerininedliquid level in said deii hleginuiing column, to conlrol thedephlegniaing i capacity chereolil 8. ln lpperatus lor dephleginntinglijvfflrocarhon oil vapors, comprising` fr Vverlicallv disiniseddephlgenialingi.;- column, :i pluralil'y o 1vertically spaced 'sporinlet lines connnunicalinl;` with said column, means for independenlly`introducing vapors 'lo seid dephlegnuiring column through any one olsaid vapor inlet lines, n pump for conveying reflux condensae away fromsaid column, a plu elity o1 verlicallgv-v spliced 'redux drawoil' lineseornniunicziingr 'with said dephleghurling column and having; e.coninion coni* niunicaion with seid pun'ip`r ineens or cadring oilrei'lux condensate hrouggh any one or said fireef-oli" lines9 loinuinain u. predecerniined liquid level in seid depliiee'niuincf; columnineens for denhleginuled vapors roni said ne in? Y' f linnn7 and Ineensfor supplying; agb-ent seid dephlegins, ne; cnlunnn

